Latest news with #HMPDartmoor
Metro
23-06-2025
- Metro
'Bonkers' UK bus is 'world's rarest' and runs on the fifth Saturday of the month
If you live in Devon and fancy a day by the seaside, there's a handy bus service that can take you to the coast. But be sure to get to the bus stop on time — if you miss it, there won't be another one for nine months. The 112 bus from Tavistock to Dawlish only runs from April to September, on every fifth Saturday, when there is one in the month. The unusual schedule means that there are only two return journeys per year. You've already missed the first for 2026, which was on May 31, but there is a second on the timetable for August 30. The 16-seat mini bus departs from Tavistock at 9:05am, returning from Dawlish at 3:30pm, making 25 stops in total. Fuel your wanderlust with our curated newsletter of travel deals, guides and inspiration. Sign up here. Unsurprisingly, the quirky 112, which has been dubbed the 'rarest bus in the world' by the Telegraph, has become somewhat of a tourist attraction, so seats on the bus fill up quickly. However, half of the seats are available to be pre-booked online, while the others are first come, first serve. The service, run by Tavistock Country Bus, is powered completely by volunteers — which may explain why its so infrequent. The famous route is also one of the UK's most beautiful. The two hour journey passes through Dartmoor National Park, with stops in Princetown, home to the notorious HMP Dartmoor, and Ashburton, a market town recorded in the Domesday Book. More Trending You can also alight at Two Bridges, and visit one of the UK's rainforests, which is supposedly haunted by a 'ghost dog'. If none of these places take your fancy though, the 112 operates a 'hail and ride' system, meaning the bus will stop anywhere on the route, as long as its safe to do so. Blogger, Roger French, who writes about his journeys on the UK's public transport network, rode the 112 in May this year. He called it 'a fabulous ride and a true quirky experience,' adding that, if you want to claim your spot on the bus, you need to be prepared. 'When I checked, there's at least four names on the waiting list in case a cancellation comes up,' he said. Meanwhile, writer Matt Harrison, completed a Year of Buses series back in 2019, in which he catalogued 365 bus routes around the UK. He called the 112 'an eccentric and completely bonkers set-up' The UK's cheapest train ticket costs just 10p, but it doesn't really get you anywhere. A 'Platform Ticket' grants you access to the station platform for 60 minutes after being issued. They're not valid on trains and are only good for the station where they were issued. Flixbus has launched a new route connecting London and Brighton for as little as £4.49. The twice-daily FlixBus service, which welcomed its first passengers on June 13, does take a little longer than the train at around 2 hours and 25 minutes, but is considerably cheaper than most train fares to the seaside. The stretch of railway between Settle, North Yorkshire, and Carlisle in Cumbria claimed the number one spot on Lonely Planet's list of the most scenic train rides in Europe. The journey through the Yorkshire Dales passes the Ribblehead Viaduct and stops at several charming countryside stations. Do you have a story to share? Get in touch by emailing MetroLifestyleTeam@ MORE: I flew 6,000 miles to meet a stranger for a date MORE: Interactive map shows where Windrush passengers settled across the UK MORE: 'Just gorgeous': Your favourite European islands that aren't in Greece
Scottish Sun
17-05-2025
- Politics
- Scottish Sun
Labour MUST reopen Dartmoor prison rather than release dangerous criminals from jail early, Tories demand
Robert Jenrick wants the Napoleonic era, 700-place prison brought back into use quickly to ease chronic overcrowding JAIL DEMAND Labour MUST reopen Dartmoor prison rather than release dangerous criminals from jail early, Tories demand Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) JUSTICE chiefs have been urged to 'strain every sinew' to re-open a notorious jail — and halt the early release of dangerous criminals. The call over HMP Dartmoor came from Shadow Justice Secretary Robert Jenrick who says its year-long shutdown to fix a gas problem leaves crime victims and the public at risk. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 3 An offender enjoys early release from prison Credit: PA 3 Justice chiefs have been urged to 'strain every sinew' to re-open notorious HMP Dartmoor Credit: Alamy 3 Robert Jenrick says its year-long shutdown to fix a gas problem leaves crime victims and the public at risk Credit: AFP He wants the Napoleonic era, 700-place prison brought back into use quickly to ease chronic overcrowding blighting the prison system. Mr Jenrick told The Sun on Sunday: 'The Justice Secretary should be straining every sinew to reopen Dartmoor Prison. Emergency works should already be under way to fix the problem and free up desperately needed prison places. 'Instead, the Justice Secretary is releasing some of the most dangerous criminals, including sex offenders and domestic abusers who have breached their licence. 'That decision puts victims and the public in jeopardy.' The 200-year-old prison, which insiders fear may never re-open, was found to have high levels of radon in December 2023. All of its inmates were moved out between May and August last year. Its windows were left open for ventilation — allowing insects and bats to move in. This prompted a report last year calling for an urgent decision on the future of the Category C jail. Meanwhile, Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood is expected to approve reforms allowing inmates, including sex offenders and violent attackers, to earn their freedom having served as little as a third of their sentences. Thousands of prisoners on recall will also serve just a month before being automatically re-released. Fury as vile rapist is back on UK streets despite being slapped with 2 life terms & judge warning 'he will attack again' English and Welsh prisons were holding 88,087 inmates last week — with 1,355 unused places. Internal government briefings suggest that men's jails will run out of space by November if action is not taken. Meanwhile, HMP Dartmoor is not set to accept inmates until at least 2026. Its problem with radioactive radon has been known about since 2020 but it took another three years before anything was done to tackle it. Radon, which is linked to lung cancer, is created by the decay of uranium in rocks and soil. Most build-ups are fixed by installing a pump to extract it from the ground. A Prison Service spokeswoman said: 'To protect our staff, we took the decision to temporarily close HMP Dartmoor and are taking urgent advice from specialists so we can reopen as quickly — and safely — as possible.'
The Irish Sun
17-05-2025
- Politics
- The Irish Sun
Labour MUST reopen Dartmoor prison rather than release dangerous criminals from jail early, Tories demand
JUSTICE chiefs have been urged to 'strain every sinew' to re-open a notorious jail — and halt the early release of dangerous criminals. The call over 3 An offender enjoys early release from prison Credit: PA 3 Justice chiefs have been urged to 'strain every sinew' to re-open notorious HMP Dartmoor Credit: Alamy 3 Robert Jenrick says its year-long shutdown to fix a gas problem leaves crime victims and the public at risk Credit: AFP He wants the Napoleonic era, 700-place prison brought back into use quickly to ease chronic overcrowding blighting the prison system. Mr Jenrick told The Sun on Sunday: 'The Justice Secretary should be straining every sinew to reopen Dartmoor Prison. Emergency works should already be under way to fix the problem and free up desperately needed prison places. 'Instead, the Justice Secretary is releasing some of the most dangerous criminals, including sex offenders and domestic abusers who have breached their licence. 'That decision puts victims and the public in jeopardy.' Read More on UK News The 200-year-old prison, which insiders fear may never re-open, was found to have high levels of radon in December 2023. All of its inmates were moved out between May and August last year. Its windows were left open for ventilation — allowing insects and bats to move in. This prompted a report last year calling for an urgent decision on the future of the Category C jail. Most read in The Sun Meanwhile, Justice Secretary Thousands of prisoners on recall will also serve just a month before being automatically re-released. Fury as vile rapist is back on UK streets despite being slapped with 2 life terms & judge warning 'he will attack again' English and Welsh prisons were holding 88,087 inmates last week — with 1,355 unused places. Internal government briefings suggest that men's jails will run out of space by November if action is not taken. Meanwhile, Its problem with radioactive radon has been known about since 2020 but it took another three years before anything was done to tackle it. Radon, which is linked to lung cancer, is created by the decay of uranium in rocks and soil. Most build-ups are fixed by installing a pump to extract it from the ground. A Prison Service spokeswoman said: 'To protect our staff, we took the decision to temporarily close HMP Dartmoor and are taking urgent advice from specialists so we can reopen as quickly — and safely — as possible.'
BBC News
09-05-2025
- BBC News
Inmate who took HMP Dartmoor prison officer hostage sentenced
An inmate armed with a plastic prison knife who took a Dartmoor prison officer hostage has been Patterson handcuffed the warder and held him for three hours during the attack at HMP Dartmoor in July 37, admitted false imprisonment, assaulting an emergency worker and possessing an offensive weapon in Matthew Turner jailed him to a total of 22 months, which he must serve on top of his current extended sentence. Plymouth Crown Court heard how Patterson had earlier barricaded himself in his cell because he feared other inmates were going to kill him and make it look like was moved to a segregation unit but falsely imprisoned the prison officer as he was being taken out for officer was released after three hours and suffered reddening to his neck and was off work for two weeks. The court was told Patterson suffered from anxiety and depression as well as paranoia caused by his substance abuse which included taking had been jailed for 11 years at Exeter Crown Court for wounding with intent in October 2020 for an attack on a dog walker in Paignton and was serving that sentence at the Devon jail.
